Fire extinguisher



" May 26; 1925-.- 1,538,968

' G. w. BHURKE, JR FIR EXTINGUISHER med new, 1920 Patented May 26, 1925;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE w. BIl'RKE, an, OF'DAYTON, orrro.

FIRE EXTINGUISHEB'.

Application f led December 3, 1920. Serial No. 428,006.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Bonnie, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire Ex the-other to manipulate the pump. Other.

known types of fire extinguisher now in gen eral use are operated'by fluid pressure, instead of a manual pump. This type, however, is generally bulky in size and compels the use of bothhandsto-operate the pressure releasing means, to hold the container, and to direct the discharge nozzle.

ln-such cases of emergency as would arisefrom a fire in an aircraft when in flight, it is essential to have a fire extinguisher operable with the greatest ease andthe least interference to the pilot in the navigation of the aircraft. When a fire breaks out in an aircraft it is usually under conditions which require the almost undivided attention of the pilot. in combat with an enemy plane, the pilot must continue to maneuver rapid- 1y to avoid the enemy. If the fire breaks out while the pilot is stunting he must right the plane, and when flying cross,

country he must maneuver toward a possible landing field. In addition to the above precautions he must put the airplane in a side slip to assist in blowing out'the fire without permitting it to spread. Those skilled in the art may thus realizehow essential it is that a fire extinguisher for aircraft shall be operable by one hand to per- 'mit free use of the other hand for the controls.

It is therefore proposed .to so construct a fire extinguisher that with the use of one hand only, it may be directed at the fire and the tire extinguishing fluid discharged. It is also proposed to provide this fire extinguisher with a fluid pressure discharge means operable by a trigger releasing valve.

The at present preferred embodiment of my invention will be found in the accompanying specification and attachedydrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical'longi'tudinal section of the fire extinguisher, showing the piston, the nozzle, and the trigger releasing means. I

As shown in the drawings A-represents the cylindrical container and B a cap to which is attached an air pressure gauge 0 provided with a bushing J. The portion Y of the container is filled with compressed air ,fed in through the inlet K while the ortion X is filled with fire extinguishing uid admitted through the inlet R which is closed by a screw cap Q. Intermediate the two sections X and Y is a piston comprising two heads or cups M held in place by two plates .N, held together by a bolt P and nut O. A

'stop W is provided in the casing, spacing the piston from the the container.

pressure gauge end 0 Attached to the cylinder is a'han d grip D so shaped that it also provides a guard for the trigger F A wood guard U for the hand grip D may be held together by screws T. Fastened to the underneath side of the container A-by means of'supports S is a barrel G. Slidably fitted within the barrel G is the trigger F which is enlarged at F to provide a shoulder. provided with a slot V for the reception of a trigger stop pin V attached to one end of Trigger F is alsoacoil spring H which has its other end against the action of the coiled'sprmg H. Near the discharge end, the barrel G is provided with an insert 1 having an outlet passage I of restricted size and provided at its inner end with a counterbored bevelled valve seat E. the trigger valve F, bevelled as at .E, to fit snugly thereagainst. Slightly to the rear of the valve seat E, is an aperture Z, adapted to provide a passage-way from the container to the nozzled'outlet I, when the trigger F is retracted. Grooves F are provided to prevent the escape of fluid along the barrel G when the outlet 27 is closed.

After filling the portion X of the container with fire extinguishing fluid and the Fitting against this valve seat is portion Y with compressed air, the device is in readiness for use. To operate the device it is only necessary to point the container in the proper direction and pull the trigger F. This operation-may be easily accomplished with one hand. It will be readily seen that by this construction is provid-' ed a fire extinguisher which is light in weight, is simple as to mechanism, 1s airtight and leak-proof, may be held and operated by one hand, being pointed as easily as a firearm directly at the fire. Thus a'pilot .could operate the device with one hand while piloting the'ship with the other.

Having thus described my invention in connection as particularly. adapted for use in an aircraft, 1 do not, however, limit myself to such restricted use as various obvious modifications and uses of the present 'em-- bodiment might be made easily within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fire extinguisher comprising a hori- 'zontal fluid container of general cylindrical shape, a pistol grip attached thereto at a point inward of the ends thereof, the length of said container being substantially equal to the length of the fire extinguisher, a trigthe grip, and'a valve beneath the forward portion of the fluid container adapted to be operated 'by said trigger to release the fluid in the container.

3. A fire extinguisher comprisin a horizontal fluid container of general cy indrical shape, a pistol grip attached thereto at a point inward of the ends thereof, the length of said container being substantially equal to the length of the fire extinguisher, a trigger located adjacent to and in front of the grip, a fluid discharge passage extending lengthwise of said container but situated exteriorlythereof, and entirel beneath the forwardportion of the container, said fluid passage communicating with said container by means of a lateral port, and a hand trigger operable valve for controlling the flow of fluid through said port.

4. A fire extinguisher comprisin a horizontal fluid container of, general cy 'ndrical shape, a pistol grip attached thereto at a point inward of the ends thereof, the length of said container being substantially equal to the length of the fire extinguisher, a trigger located adjacent to and in front of the rip, a fluid discharge passage extending lengthwise of said container but situated exteriorly thereof, and entirely beneath the forward portion of the container, said-fluid passage communicating with said container by means of a lateral port, and a hand trigger operable valve for controlling the flow of fluid through said port, the forward .portion of said fluid discharge passage being substantially flush withthe forward portion of said cylindrical container.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

GEORGE W.,BURKE, .13. 

